Office of the Regional Chair Halton Region 1151 Bronte Road Oakville, ON L6M 3L1

April 29, 2020

The Honourable Premier of Legislative Building Queen's Park Toronto ON M7A 1A1

Dear Premier Ford,

I would like to thank you for the leadership role that you and your government have played during these unprecedented times as we work together to stop the spread of COVID-19. I express sincere appreciation on behalf of essential workers, to your government, for introducing pandemic pay, on April 25, 2020 as an additional support for our frontline workers fighting COVID-1. It is also important that I draw your immediate attention to two groups of essential workers that regrettably do not appear to qualify for this support, but are very important to protecting the health and safety of our resident; paramedics and public health workers.

As essential front-line healthcare workers, paramedics play a critical role in the fight against COVID-19. Halton Region’s paramedics actively identify, test, support residents and respond to the severity of COVID-19 and are key members of our response teams for vulnerable residents, including those living in congregate settings. Despite the long hours and increased risk posed by COVID-19, Halton Region’s paramedics remain committed to protecting the health and safety of the community. The daily personal sacrifices of paramedics continue to align with those of healthcare, long-term care, social services and corrections workers. The risk posed by COVID-19 does not differentiate between frontline healthcare workers, and they should therefore be eligible for pandemic pay.

Our public health workers have been on the front lines of the COVID response far in advance of any emergencies being declared. Their around the clock work in contact tracing, testing and assessment, and infection prevention and control has been instrumental in helping to turn the curve against COVID 19.

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I strongly urge you to immediately expand eligibility for pandemic pay to paramedics and public health workers in recognition of the dedication of these courageous healthcare heroes in our fight again COVID-19. It is only with their continued commitment that we can conquer COVID- 19. I thank you for your attention to this important issue.

Sincerely,

Gary Carr Regional Chair cc: The Honourable Christine Elliot, Minister of Health , MPP, Wellington-Halton Hills Jane McKenna, MPP, Burlington , MPP, Milton Stephen Crawford, MPP, Oakville , MPP, Oakville North-Burlington

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